AMD or Intel build

[mezen]

Approximate Purchase Date: Hopefully by the end of this weekend

Budget Range: 600-800

System Usage from Most to Least Important: surfing the internet,light gaming, watching movies


Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country of Origin:US

Parts Preferences: AMD or Intel

Overclocking: maybe


SLI or Crossfire: No


Monitor Resolution: 1280x1024 for now, will change later on with the purchase of a new monitor


Additional Comments: This is for my father, It should last a long time. I started building an I5 760 system, and though I should look into an amd build. Im still open to either. I was having a hard time with mobo for either system. Ill post both





AMD

CPU-
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

Mobo- Kinda just threw that one on there just to have one.
ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198


Intel-

CPU-
Intel Core i5-760 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80605I5760
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115067

Mobo- Its so-so
GIGABYTE GA-P55-USB3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128425

Everything else

PSU-
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005


Mem-
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

HD-
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Cooler-
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Gpu- Haven't decided what to get, I don't need anything too crazy

Case- Don't have one selected, I have a Lexa S but I was thinking about tring out a differant one for this build

OS-
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM



I'm open for all options, and thanks in advance

 

[gkay09]

Some very good deals available right now...

X4 925 + ASUS 870A - I doubt for the tasks that your father does, he would be able to differentiate between an AMD and Intel PC...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.559887

RAM + OS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.549357.20-231-098

CASE - CM 690
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

PSU - Check this one - A very good PSU for the price...
OCZ StealthXstream II OCZ600SXS2 600W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341039
Reviews
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/OCZ-StealthXStream-2-600-W-Power-Supply-Review/1058
http://www.guru3d.com/article/ocz-stealthxstream-2-600w-review/1

Video card - This would be good -
GTS 450 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125342

 

[mezen]

Gkay-MB is sold out arleady, Most of the 100 dollar AMD boards have some pretty bad reviews.
I will get back to anyone else that post in the morning, time for me to crash

 

[gkay09]

Here is one more, but you wont get SATA 6GB/s or USB 3.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.548312

Here is a good Intel combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.552987

 

[geofelt]

For internet and light gaming, you do not need a quad. The cheapest Intel clarkdale 32nm duo G6950 will suffice. Use the integrated graphics, a H55 itx motherboard, and put it into a small itx case. I have this as my backup pc, and I can play civilization 2.42 on it with no problems.

For real performance spend about $100 on a SSD for the OS and apps. If more storage is needed, add a hard drive.

The G6950 will oc like crazy to whatever you need, but even at stock it is fine.
A itx motherboard will have a discrete pci-e slot in case you should need more graphics power.

 

[Twoboxer]

If gaming on this PC is limited to "light" and a 1024 monitor, then an i3 540 and integrated graphics will likely be just fine. In a decent case, there's no need for anything beyond the stock cooler, even for a mild OC. (OTOH, a Hyper 212 is almost free lol.)

Gaming on the i3 540:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu-core-i3-athlon-ii-x4,2791-3.html

If you are unhappy with graphics performance, or if/when gaming gets "heavier" or goes into higher resolutions (eg new monitor), you can add a vid card appropriate for that resolution. There is no need to guess or spend money at this time. Your dad will appreciate your thoughtful, step-by-step approach

So:

i3 540 + Gigabyte mATX mobo $202
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.540251

G.Skill 2x2GB 1333 cl9 $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253

Seasonic 520W psu (Will support any graphics card added later) $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094&cm_re=seasonic_520w-_-17-151-094-_-Product

Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB $55 (or 1TB for $70)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&cm_re=samsung_spinpoint_500gb-_-22-152-181-_-Product

Cases are a matter of storage size, air flow, and personal taste. Your rig presents no real air flow difficulties, so here are two good cases to consider:

HAF912 ($60) or NZXT Vulcan ($70)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&Tpk=haf%20912

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146065&Tpk=NZXT%20Vulcan

 

[mezen]

Best answer selected by mezen.